! "#$$%&'!($)%&*!+,-./,! ! "#$%&'#()*!+',-$).-*)#$! 0012!3#4),)$)!().5!"6! /0!&#1*-,2!&345! 7)&8*9%$$8:!;<!=0>2?! 6-$217)882!+9!:;<=>! .#$$%&'@$)%&*-A/B/#A! &2'?)*!"#@!::<! ! "8C-.&!D8.9%/8!"8E-8*C86! June 2016 ! ! Dear Sisters and Brothers, Just last night, I was in the hospital with a family who had lost a loved one. It was a heartbreaking situation to witness, and the family was obviously devastated at this loss. As I was pondering words of comfort for them, I kept thinking, “God, this just doesn’t make sense.” I believe every single one of us has been through, are living in, or will soon experience a season in life when God doesn’t seem to make sense. Why did our loved one have to die? Why did this illness happen to me? Why did we have to go through this challenge or that issue? We start Help us clean up our mailing list. to think, “Hey God, I’m a good person, I attend church, I do right by others, I read Scripture and I pray daily. Please let us know if you are receiving multiple copies or no longer wish to receive this newsletter. Where were You on that one?” Now the challenge really comes in, when we are fully aware that God is able to care for our need, but doesn’t. We may be praying that God shows up in a situation, but it doesn’t seem to be (740) 453-4192 | [email protected] happening. We have all experienced times in life where God doesn’t make sense. You may also request the email newsletter. In June, we are going to be living in a sermon series that looks at moments in our life when God doesn’t make sense. There are times when God seems inattentive. We are praying, believing, and trusting that God is going to show up, but He doesn’t show up in our time of need. John the Baptist can relate to this as one of Jesus’ greatest advocates, yet he was left to rot in prison and was eventually beheaded. There are times when God seems to be late. We needed God to do a thing in a specific time frame and yet the time for Him to act is gone and it feels like all hope is lost. I’m sure Mary and Martha could relate to that as they watched their brother, Lazarus, die when they knew Jesus (a great friend of the family) could have healed him. There are times when God seems uncooperative. We have all had something that we seem to keep stumbling on in our life, and it just feels like those things keep happening over and over again. Do you ever feel like you just can’t catch a break and wonder if, or why, God seems to be messing with you? I’m sure the apostle Paul can relate. He was shipwrecked, beaten, left for dead, wrongfully imprisoned, and had troubles and trials that just didn’t seem to go away. In fact, he described a persistent challenge in his life as a “thorn in his flesh”. There are countless examples of people in Scripture experiencing seasons of life when God doesn’t make sense. I’m looking forward to sharing this sermon series with you and opening up God’s Word together to experience the hope we have in Jesus Christ. If you are discouraged, I believe you will find God’s encouragement in this series, perhaps in a way that you haven’t felt for some time. As we look at these folks in the Bible and their real- life struggles, I pray that God builds our faith to trust in times of uncertainty. I pray He grows our belief that He has our life in His hands. I believe you have friends and neighbors who struggle with these very issues and would benefit greatly from this series. Take the opportunity to invite someone to come with you who is desperate for hope, belief, and faith in our amazing God – even when He doesn’t make sense. It is going to be a powerful month! Blessed & Barefoot, Pastor John June Birthdays & Anniversaries Heal Our Land …if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 June Birthdays June Anniversaries The last several decades have brought continual challenges and moral decay to the landscape we truly and sincerely 2 Tim Collins, Gary Handshy, Judy Richardson 1 Jason & Lara Bunting call the “land of the free”. Along with the challenges and decay, still stands a church poised to follow God’s Word. 3 Amy Reed 3 Burl & Brenda Lemon With this posture, we will present “Heal Our Land,” an evening of worship, praise, and prayer for this great 4 Christina Johnson, Kelly Morrow 4 David & Sally Birkimer land of ours. 5 Chris Balsley, Kevin Jones Charlie & Beulah Strickler 6 Heather Moorehead, DJ Pierce 5 Gary & Sharon Stall Sunday evening, July 10 @ 6:00 PM – Rolling Plains Worship Center 7 Dee Welsh 6 Kevin & Teresa Bailey 7 Troy & Jordin Harmer 8 Julia Evans May we join our hearts and prayers together in seeking God’s favor and direction for our United States of America 11 Cecelia Dorr, Orlo Freshly 8 Robert & Anita Allard (wear your red, white and blue in support!). 12 Danielle Seastrand Craig & Lindsay Wilson 13 Ric Roush 10 Dave & Terra Armstead Presented by the Worship Choir and the Rolling Plains Prayer Ministry 14 Sally Birkimer, Connie Fink, Tom Hatfield Denny & Valerie Mozena 12 Alan & Kathe King 16 Megan Duff, Mallory Spring 13 Thomas & Heather Ferguson 17 Debbie Swingle Prayer Ministry 20 Erin Alice, Kelly Morrison, JoAnn Paisley 14 Rick & Barb Knox 21 Judy Martin 16 Joe & Nikole Daniels Many of us have had a learning experience through the showing of the War Room movie and follow-up of Pastor 22 Matt Starrett 18 Neil & Lindsey Cornett John's sermon series on the power of prayer. Several of us also took advantage of the War Room Bible Study, 23 Charles Corder, Sam Finck Dave & Gaylin Higdon th rd 19 Fred & Missy Beckert which ended on May 15 , and the Battle Plan for Prayer Bible Study, which ended on May 23 . If you missed 24 Brenda Lemon these Bible Studies and are interested in participating at a later date, please use the back of your Connection Card 25 Rita Bonifield, Marci Jones Tim & Cathy Collins to let us know of your interest. 26 Lynn Fazakas, Sonnie Karr, Kelly Lee Tim & Janet Trout 27 Rebecca Smith 22 Matthew & Laura Walser Here is what's happening with the Prayer Ministry: 28 Linda Kinner 23 Don & Mary Rice Chad & Heather Stoltz On Saturday, May 28th members of our church family met at Putnam Hill Park to pray over our city and 30 Shelia Weaver • 24 Mike & Sue Demp county. Adam & Erika Pontious • Every Thursday morning at 7:00 AM, we meet to pray for the church, community, and for whatever the June Highlights: Randy & Melissa Spring Holy Spirit leads us. It's a great way to start your day by praying in agreement with brothers and sisters 26 Gary & Billijean Ball in Christ. not a fan. Joe & Frances Martin • On the first of June our church will be doing a devotional, Not a Fan, which will take us through most of John & Crystal Swope June 1 | Begin reading the summer. We at Rolling Plains desire to be Followers of Christ, not just fans. Randy & Cori Wilkes • The Prayer Team is also suggesting that our church can pray corporately (together in agreement) every KidStuf Bob & Jennifer Ziel day. How are we going to do that? Every day at 7:40 PM you can either pray as the Holy Spirit guides June 5 | 9:45 AM 27 Matt & Lauren Wood you, or set aside time to read your Not a Fan Daily Devotional as a family! I believe God will bless you 28 Shawn & Shauntae Bash individually, as a family, and corporately as a church!! Graduation/Scholarship Sunday 29 Mathew & Inzie Browning Mike & Cathy Shaeffer June 5 | 8:15, 9:45 & 11 AM We will be introducing a fun event for the church as we go forward, praying for everyone without ceasing. On Don & Becky Sharkey th th 30 Jordy & Sadie Anderson June 26 , we will be having a Prayer Wave in the Putnam area; on July 10 , we will be collaborating with the Community Breakfast choir for a patriotic event; and in August (after the fair) the church will be having a county-wide prayer walk at Loren & Helen Anderson all of our school districts. Watch for details for these events in the coming weeks. June 18 | 8:30 AM Pat & Dixie Murphy Vacation Bible School Have a blessed summer and Rejoice in the Lord always! Again, I say Rejoice! If you do not see your birthday or anniversary at Bethel Community Center listed, we may not have all your information. Beth Jackson, Coordinator June 20-24 | 12-2 PM Please contact the office at 740-453-4192 to RP Prayer Ministry update your information. 740-297-6610 Putnam Prayer Wave June 26 | 12:30 PM August 19 & 20, 2016 @ Nationwide Arena, Columbus OH Feel like Sunglasses Previously known as Women of Faith you're missing You desire to deepen your relationships and discover your passions. You care about purpose, vision, Sunscreen making connections and applying your faith to everyday life.